Did you know ICMA has a YouTube site full of videos on local government? The run the gamut of topics and production quality, but all provide valuable information about ICMA and the profession. A personal favorite are films ICMA members submitted as part of our 2nd Annual Video Contest. This year’s challenge was to make a video that demonstrates the value of professional local government management and/or ICMA membership. The results are spectacular!

Some of my other favorite videos are the ones added most recently. Before and during the 2009 ICMA Annual Conference, staff coordinated the filming of several “PSA’s” to highlight various ICMA programs and services. There’s a mix of staff and members featured on camera talking about everything from credentialing to ELDP to the new design of PM Magazine to the benefits of 311 and CRM. Check them out to learn about the exciting opportunities that are out there. In the meantime, here’s a taste of what to expect:

Another great resource is ICMA TV, who produces high quality videos on local governments and various aspects of the conference. You can find their content at icmatv.com.

I just attended the educational session entitled “Breaking Individual Inertia: A Pathway to Improved Health and Reduced Costs”.

Bill Reindl from CIGNA shared a fresh perspective on innovative ways to get individuals actively engaged in their health — and important health care decisions. Interestingly, he began with an exercise to show attendees how their employee health benefit strategy relates to the benefits they offer. For example, how managers, their HR directors and employees view their role in employee health.

Ultimately I learned that each of these stakeholders plays a critical role and shares in the responsibility for health.

Mr. Reindl noted that for many stakeholders change is a challenge. He reviewed critical components of effective strategies to get employers and employees engaged in health improvement to lower costs.

Times are tough, budgets are tight, but the show must go on. Your constituents still want the services they have come to expect. So if you have been racking your brain for solutions to your local government challenges look no further. Along with a variety of topics addressed in the Educational Program conference attendees can find answers in the 2009 Solutions Track. 22 sessions will run in three Theaters in the Exhibit Hall Monday from 9:45am-5:15pm and Tuesday 9:45am-2:00pm.

A full list of the Solutions Track sessions can be found in your final program, some of the subjects covered in the solutions track include: Community Branding, Tackling Economic Challenges, Performance Measurement, Public Safety, Service Delivery, Sustainable Communities, Technology, and Workforce Issues.

Thank you to all our speakers and sponsors for contributing to this year’s program.

This morning, ICMA Executive Director Bob O’Neill kicked of the 2009 ICMA Strategic PartnerAnnual Meeting by welcoming more than 40 Strategic Partner representatives to Montreal. He thanked them for their strong, sustained commitment to ICMA’s programs and activities throughout the year.

ICMA President Dave Limardi, ICMA President-Elect Darnell Early, and newly hired ICMA Director of Strategic Initiatives Ron Carlee also joined the meeting and shared their perspectives on the challenges facing local governments. Dave spoke about ethics as a core value for the public and private sectors, while Darnell emphasized the value of partnerships between the public and private sector in helping local governments achieve financial success. Finally, Ron Carlee discussed the challenges facing local governments as they work to create sustainable communities. The Strategic Partners thanked ICMA’s leaders for giving them their perspectives.

Are you looking for expert advice on how to handle an issue facing your jurisdiction? Visit the ICMA Pavilion in the exhibit hall for one-on-one mini advice sessions with members of the ICMA Consulting Services team. You can receive free, onsite advice in fiscal health and wellness, workforce deployment and development, leadership and organizational effectiveness, and citizen engagement.

Craig Rapp, director of ICMA Consulting Services, and Chuck Schwabe, director of Management Services for ICMA Consulting Services, will provide advice in areas such as lean thinking, Baldrige for government, and council-staff relations.

Leonard Matarese, director of Public Safety Services for ICMA Consulting Services, and his team of senior public safety services consultants will offer advice on appropriate, cost-effective staffing for police and fire departments, and more.